ABSTRACT Noninvasive prenatal screening that uses cellfree DNA from the plasma of pregnant women offers tremendous potential as a screening method for fetal aneuploidy A number of laboratories have validated different techniques for the use of cellfree DNA as a screening test for fetal aneuploidy ...

ABSTRACT Myelomeningocele the most severe form of spina bifida occurs in approximately 1 in 1500 births in the United States Fetuses in whom myelomeningocele is diagnosed typically are delivered at term and are treated in the early neonatal period A recent randomized controlled trial found that fe...

ABSTRACT In 2001 the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Medical Genetics introduced guidelines for prenatal and preconception carrier screening for cystic fibrosis The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Genetics has updated...

ABSTRACT Family history plays a critical role in assessing the risk of inherited medical conditions and single gene disorders Several methods have been established to obtain family medical histories including the family history questionnaire or checklist and the pedigree The screening tool selecte...

ABSTRACT Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited form of mental retardation The syndrome occurs in approximately 1 in 3600 males and 1 in 40006000 females Approximately 1 in 250 females carry the premutation DNAbased molecular analysis is the preferred method of diagnosis for fragile X syn...

ABSTRACT Certain autosomal recessive disease conditions are more prevalent in individuals of Eastern European Jewish Ashkenazi descent Previously the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that individuals of Eastern European Jewish ancestry be offered carrier screening fo...